Interdisciplinary Conference: Urban South Asia Writ Small

Friday, April 20, 2018 at 3:00pm
to 5:00pm

Milstein and SIbley halls; A. D. White House

"Urban South Asia Writ Small" draws together expertise from anthropology, architecture, economics, the fine arts, history, and religious studies in order to investigate the heart of South Asia's urban development. South Asian urban modernity has mostly been understood through the lifestyles and challenges of globally linked metros. What form is modernity taking in smaller cities and towns that straddle the global as well as the rural-urban divide differently from the metros? Preliminary studies indicate that poverty is deeper and more widespread in smaller towns and that rates of access to services and amenities are considerably lower. Yet, we know little of the dynamic processes that link city size to the prevalence of poverty and, perhaps, inequality.

This conference will examine a range of issues facing ordinary cities and towns in South Asia today. An edited publication will follow, and collaborative research projects explored and taken forward between conference conveners, speakers, and participants.

This conference is funded by the South Asia Program; Society for the Humanities; Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies; International Planning Students Organization; the Department of City and Regional Planning at the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University; the South Asia Center at Syracuse University; and the Cornell-Syracuse South Asia National Resource Center.